Net migration to the UK fell to 171,000 in 2025, almost half the figure recorded in 2024, according to new Home Office data.
The figure marks the lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic period. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the numbers showed progress but added that “more needs to be done.”
The data also showed that 93,525 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to March 2026, down 12% from the previous year, although still more than double pre-pandemic levels.
Officials said the fall in net migration was mainly driven by fewer arrivals from outside the European Union, particularly for work. Policy changes such as stricter visa rules for overseas students, care workers, and higher salary thresholds for skilled workers are believed to have contributed to the decline.
Meanwhile, the number of asylum seekers staying in hotels while awaiting decisions fell to 20,885 in March 2026, down from more than 30,000 in late 2025.
The government said the figures show progress in controlling migration, while opposition parties argued that further reforms are still needed.
